You are Marie-Louise La Course . When both your parents died you
moved from France to Kaskaskia, Illinois, to keep house for your
older brother, Louis La Course , until you find a husband to marry.
It has been over a year since you made the dangerous ocean voyage
from France to New Orleans and then traveled up the Mississippi
River to Kaskaskia with the convoy of
bateaux.

Your best friend is your cousin Rene Lemoine-des Pins'
wife, Marie-Jeanne. She has promised to help you find a husband.
Men outnumber women three to one in the Illinois colonies, and most
men are eager to have a French wife but are not willing to travel
back to France (see Nicholas Chassin's letter). She assures you that you
will have your pick of the most successful farmers.

You have received a letter from the office of the Royal
commander in New Orleans notifying you that your belongings from
France have arrived. Among your things is a feather bed, which will
make a perfect dowry for when you marry. Louis has asked Rene to go
to New Orleans to bring your things
safely back to Kaskaskia.